Type-writing machine.



J. G. MOLAUGHLIN.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED T1213. 2, 1910.

1,069,890., Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

Wimwmb 0M f OW TTNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTQF.

JOHN G. McLAUGI-ILIN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 UNDERWOOD TYPEVJRITEB COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Application filed February 2, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN C. MoLAUeH- LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-lVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to paper-feeding devices for typewriting machines.

One object of the invention is to improve and simplify spring mechanism for pressing the rolls against the platen. Improved equalizing bars or levers are employed to effect a distribution of the spring pressure to both the forward and rear feed rolls.

Another objectis to improve and simplify the pressure regulating mechanism for the feed rolls. There is provided a winding or tensioning device conveniently operable without dismantling the machine, to regulate the pressure of the rolls against the platen and to hold the spring where adjusted.

A further object is to facilitate the introduction and guidance of the sheets around the platen. A paper deflector is made separate from the paper shelf, and hinged to the forward movable roll-carrying shaft, so that the forward rolls will move with the deflector to prevent the leading edges of the sheets from striking full against the rolls.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention applied to the platen frame of an Underwood front strike writing machine. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the pressure rolls and deflector released or cast off from the platen. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail plan view illustrating the spring tensioning device. Fig. 4. is a view similar to Fi 2, but showing the pressure rolls in normal position. Fig. 5 is a detail end view of the spring tensioning device. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view showing the paper deflector and rolls.

The platen I struck by types 1 has an Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 12,1913.

Serial No. 541,587.

axle 2 by which it is ournaled in the ends 3 of a platen frame. Said ends are connected by a rigid rear paper shelf 4 inclining downwardly and forwardly toward the under rear side of the platen. Also rigidly connecting said ends are the parallel rods 5 and 6. Rearwardly extending arms 7 are hinged upon the rod 6 and carry a shaft 8 on which is mounted a series of pressure rolls 9 running upon the under side of the platen just below the lower edge of the paper shelf. Extending forwardly from the rod 5 are the swinging arms 10 supporting a shaft 11 carrying pressure rolls 12 running upon the under front side of the platen. The paper shelf guides the sheets directly into the bite between the rear pressure rolls 9 and the platen, the sheets being fed around the under side of the platen by the rolls.

The slippage or creeping movement between a sheet and the platen or between the individual sheets of a pile fed around the platen has been due, at least in part, to the pull or strain upon, or to the buckling or wrinkling of the stretch of paper between the forward and rear feed rolls; such buckling or straining being due in part to constructions whereby the pressure of the rolls upon the platen was not radial thereto. To remedy this, both the forward and rear rolls are caused to press toward the center of the platen, the rolls being supported so that when in contact wit-h the platen, each occupies approximately the apex of a right angle, whose legs intersect the platen axis and the axis around which the rolls revolve. The forward rolls are also spaced farther from the rear rolls than heretofore, which gives the rolls a better grip on the sheets and results in improving the feed and in aiding to prevent skewing of the sheets. To accommodate such arrangement in the lim ited space beneath the platen, the rear feed roll arms are hinged on the rod 6 behind the usual rod 5.

The rolls are pressed against the platen by springs 13 coiled around the tie-rod 5, one at each end of said rod; there being, preferably, two springs for all of the rolls.

The pressure of these springs is divided between the front and rear rolls, or between the shafts 8 and 11 upon which said rolls rotate. This division is effected by an equalizing or distributing mechanism, comprising, in each instance, an equalizing lever 17 pivoted between its ends at 18 upon an arm 16, the latter having a lug 14 engaged by one end of the spring 13, said arm having a hub 15 by which it may turn upon the tierod 5; said lug 1 1 being formed upon said hub. At its ends said equalizing lever 17 is pivoted at 21 to the ends of arms 19, 20, which extend toward each other from the tie-rods 5, 6 and which may be formed integral with the arms 10 and 7, respectively, which carry the pressure roll shafts 11 and 8. Each spring tends to turn its arm 16 around the rod 5 and thereby depress the equalizing lever 17 bodily, thereby pressing down the arms 19, 20, and hence pressing the rolls up against the platen.

Each roll shaft 8, 11 receives about one half of the force of each spring 13; and it will be understood that the forcing of either forward or rear roll away from the platen does not diminish the pressure of the other roll upon the platen, but tends rather to increase it. Other spring mechanism may, however, be employed in some cases, as for instance, where it is not desired to divide the pressure of a spring between the forward and rear rolls. By depression of a release key 22, a link 24 turns a shaft 23, on which are formed flats or cams 27 to engage arms 25 formed upon the arms 16, (which transmit the pressure of the respective springs 13 to the equalizing lever 17). By means of these flats or cams, the arms 25, 16 are turned against the tension of the springs, and the equalizing levers 17 are thrown upwardly, and the rolls 9, 12 are dropped from the platen. Each arm 19, 20 may be provided with a toe 28 to engage the projecting pivot pin 18, to limit the downward swing ofthe released pressure rolls. The springs 13 are connected with a tensioning and locking mechanism, including a worm 29 stepped in an ear 30 projecting from the end 3 of the platen frame, and a gear 31 ournaled on the rod 5. Said gear may be rotated to increase or reduce the tension of the spring, one end of which spring is connected with the gear, as at 32. These worms 29 are located at the ends of the platen frame, to permit convenient access. Any suitable tool 33 may be inserted in nicks 341- in the heads of the worms, for winding or unwinding the springs. The worm and gear hold the springs where adjusted, without the aid of an auxiliary lock.

The lower edge of the paper shelf lies in front of the upper edge of a yielding paper deflector 35 which lies beneath the platen, its front edge 36 extending above the forward pressure rolls 12, to the shaft 11 of which it is pivoted by the ears 37. The deflector is supported by the forward rollcarrying shaft and the spring pressure thereon holds the deflector in place, the front edge portion of the deflector bearing up against the platen, which hence serves as a fulcrum, to enable the roll shaft 11 to hold up the rear end of the deflector also. The deflector will guide the sheets around the platen and directly into the bite between the forward feed rolls and the platen without causing their leading edges to abut full against the forward feed rolls. The deflector will yield with the forward feed rolls, so as to accommodate a pile, the leading edge of which therefore is introduced easily between the forward rolls and the platen as it is fed forward by the rear rolls.

\Vhen mounting the deflector on the forward roll shaft, so that they both yield to gether, the apertures 38 through which the tops of the forward rolls project may be made smaller, and the catching of the corners of the sheets in the apertures is prevented because the rolls always substantially fill the apertures. Furthermore the forward edge 36 of the deflector may be extended upward to a point slightly below the printing line, the forward edge being held against the platen by the spring tension on the rolls and'operating to effect or aid the advance of the sheets after they have passed the forward feed rolls. The rear edge of the deflector underlies the lower edge of the paper shelf, and may be recessed at intervals at 39 to receive the rear rolls 9.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, forward and rear pressure rolls running thereon and levers supporting the rolls, of a set of springs, arms operated thereby, and equalizing bars interposed between the spring arms and the respective roll-supporting levers, and effective to distribute the spring tension among the levers to hold the rolls against the platen.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and forward and rear pressure rolls running thereon, of swinging supports for the rolls, arms connected with the supports, a lever connecting the arms,

operated by the spring to distribute the:

pressure to both feed rolls.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, forward and rear feed rolls, and arms pivoted on the framework and supporting said rolls, of a spring, an equalizing lever connecting the arms and operated by the spring to distribute the pressure to the arms, releasing mechanism, and an arm connected to the spring and controlled by the releasing mechanism to cast off all the feed rolls.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, forward and rear feed rolls therefor, and supporting arms for the rolls, of a spring, an arm operated thereby, an equalizing lever pivoted to the arm and located intermediate the front and rear rolls, and arms connected to the roll-supporting arms and pivoted to the opposite ends of the equalizing lever for transmitting the spring pressure to both forward and rear rolls.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, forward and rear feed rolls, and roll-supports to rock from and toward the platen, of arms connected with the supports, a spring connected with the supports to press the feed rolls against the platen, a finger-piece effective to rock the supports away from the platen, and stops on the arms to arrest the throw of the feed rolls away from the platen.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, forward and rear feed rolls therefor, and roll-supporting levers, of springs, arms operated thereby, equalizing bars interposed between the respective arms and the roll-supporting levers to transmit the pressure of the springs to both forward and rear rolls, releasing arms connected with the tensioning arms, and a finger piece having means to rock the releasing arms to cast off and restore the rolls.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen, feed rolls to run thereon, and independently movable pivoted supports for said rolls, of a paperguiding plate extending around the platen to press against the same, a spring, and n'ieans to divide the pressure of said spring among said rolls and said plate.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and forward and rear feed rolls to run thereon, and independently movable supports for said rolls, of a plate curving around the platen and swiveled between its forward and rear edges upon the support of the forward roll, a spring, and means for dividing the pressure of said spring among said rolls and said plate.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a revoluble platen and a feed roll to run thereon, of a sheet-guiding plate curving around the platen, and a springpressed pivoted support for said roll; said plate pivoted upon said support between the forward and rear edges of the plate to bear only at its forward end against the platen; said platen and said support forming the sole supports for said plate.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and forward and rear feed rolls to run upon the platen, of independently movable pivoted supports for said rolls, a lever extending from the support of the forward roll to the support of the rear roll and connected to both supports, and

means for applying pressure to said lever between its ends.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and forward and rear feed rolls to run thereon, of independently movable supports for said rolls, a spring, and means, including a lever connected to both supports, for dividing the pressure of said spring between said rolls.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and forward and rear rolls to run upon the platen, of independently movable pivoted supports for said rolls, a rod or shaft upon which one of said supports is pivoted, a spring Wound around said rod, an arm pivoted on said rod and pressed by said spring, and a lever swiveled on the end of said arm and connected to both said supports to press both forward and rear rolls against the platen.

14:. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and forward and rear rolls to run upon the platen, of independently movable pivoted supports for said rolls, a rod or shaft upon which one of said supports is pivoted, a spring wound around said rod, an arm pivoted on said rod and pressed by said spring, a lever swiveled on the end of said arm and connected to both said supports to press both forward. and rear rolls against the platen, and a fingerpiece having means to move said arm in opposition to said spring to release the rolls from the platen.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and forward and rear pressure rolls running thereon, of swinging arms supporting the rolls, a tension device to press the rolls against the platen, a re leasing arm connected with the tension device, and a lever-operated cam engaged by the arm and efiective to rock the releasing arm to cast off the rolls.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and forward and rear series of feed rolls, of a tensioning spring, and an equalizing lever connecting the two series of feed rolls and operated by the tension spring to distribute the pressure equally to both series of feed rolls.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination With a platen and forward and rear spring and controlled by the releasing series of feed rolls, of a tensioning spring, mechanism to cast 0H both series of feed an equallzing lever connecting the two series rolls.

of feed rolls and operated by the tension JOHN C. MOLAUGHLIN. spring to distribute the pressure equally to Witnesses:

both series of feed rolls, releasing mecha- JOHN O. SEIFERT,

nism, and a releasing arm connected to the K. FRANKFORT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of .Patents. Washington, I). G. 

